Fayette council 1.28

Written by David Green.

By DAVID GREEN

Fayette now has a third generation village council member with the appointment of Julia Ruger.

Four residents expressed interest in filling the council seat made vacant when Craig Rower was chosen to serve as council president pro tempore. In that capacity, Rower serves as acting mayor until the November election.

Ruger, Rodney Kessler and Mat Johnson each spoke to council Thursday about filling the position. Victor Molina also expressed interest in the role, but told council that he would withdraw his name since there were already three good candidates to consider.

Council members voted 4-1 to put Ruger into office until the November election.

She told council members that she is active with the Fayette PTO and the Fayette Athletic Boosters and has business experience.

Ruger’s father, Gary Rice, and grandfather, Otto Rice, both served as council members in the past.

SNOW REMOVAL—Police chief Jason Simon warned residents earlier in the month that he would write citations to property owners who failed to clear sidewalks of snow.

That warning resulted in a large amount of paperwork.

Chief Simon told council that he drove around the village Jan. 20 and found 93 residences and businesses in violation.

As of Thursday, he had delivered more than 50 violation notices and planned to have the remainder delivered by Friday. Three notices were sent via registered mail to absentee property owners.

From the first batch of warning letters, only one property owner refused to comply, Simon said.

Simon said the village office received several calls about the snow removal ordinance that became law in 1990.

He said the ordinance isn’t specific about the amount of snow or ice accumulation before a warning letter is sent. In general, he said that residents should be able to walk on a sidewalk without getting snow in their shoes. It’s not necessary to clear snow down to a bare sidewalk.

Simon said he gave residents some extra time to clear walks due to the recent cold temperatures.

TREES—Volunteers are still needed to serve on the village tree commission. Anyone interested should contact village hall.

Members are considering an Arbor Day observance and Eugene Rosinsky intends to present a class in trimming.

ZONING—At the Jan. 20 Zoning Board meeting, village administrator Amy Metz gave members Dan Markley and Jim Bacon an update on the damaged building next to the village hall. A portion of the back wall collapsed.

Metz explained that since it’s a commercial building, the problem is not within the jurisdiction of the village. Instead, state inspectors are involved.

Property owner Don Stiriz has shown Metz blueprints and spoke about plans to repair the building.

The village solicitor and insurer advised Metz to obtain proof of insurance from Stiriz since the building is connected to the village hall.

In addition, a letter was sent to Stiriz calling for a more substantial barrier in the back of the building. Stiriz has until Jan. 30 to comply. Caution tape was stretched across the back when the building started bowing outward several months ago. The barrier request was made by a Fulton County Health Center physician.

CREDIT—Due to an increase in credit card charges from Bank of America, council’s finance committee advised fiscal officer Lisa Zuver to obtain a card from a different bank.

Zuver said she inquired at Huntington, but was required to report her income and Social Security number. She chose Farmers & Merchants instead.

SKATE PARK—Finance committee members discussed liability and insurance rates for a skateboard park.

AUDIENCE—About 25 people were in the audience Thursday, but no one signed up to speak at the meeting.

STEP BY STEP—Wyatt Stevens of Morenci makes his way across a rope bridge Sunday during the Michigan DNR’s Great Outdoors Jamboree at Lake Hudson Recreation Area. The Tecumseh Boy Scout Troop constructed the bridge again this year after taking a break in 2016. The Jamboree offered a variety of activities for a wide range of age groups. Morenci’s Stair District Library set up activities again this year and had visits with dozens of kids. See the back page for additional photos.

LEADING THE WAY—The Morenci Area High School marching band led the way across the pedestrian bridge on Morenci’s south side for the annual Labor Day Bridge Walk. The Band Boosters shared profits from the sale of T-shirts with the walk’s sponsor, the Morenci Area Chamber of Commerce. Additional photos are on the back page.

LOOKING UP—More than 200 people showed up at Stair District Library Monday afternoon to view the big celestial event with free glasses provided by a grant from the Space Science Institute. The library offered craft activities from noon to 1 p.m., refreshments including Cosmic Cake from Zingerman’s Bakehouse and a live viewing of the eclipse from NASA on a large screen. As the sky darkened slightly, more and more people moved outside to the sidewalk to take a look at the shrinking sun. If you missed it, hang on for the next total eclipse in 2024 as the path comes even closer to this area.

THE MAYOR—Cecil Schoonover poses with a collection of garden gnomes that mysteriously arrive and disappear from his property. Along with the gnomes, someone created the sign stating that he is the Mayor of Gnomesville. He hasn’t yet tracked down the people involved in the prank, but he’s having a good time with the mystery.

TAKE A BREAK—Last Wednesday’s session of Stair District Library’s Summer Reading Program ended with a quiet period in a class presented by yoga instructor Melany Gladieux of Toledo. Children learned a variety of yoga poses in the main room at the library, then finished off the session relaxing. Additional photos are on page 7. Area children are invited to visit the library today when the Michigan Science Center presents a flight program at 11 a.m. and roller coasters at 1 p.m.

THE DERBY—Tyler “Smallpox” Flakne of Minnesota’s Home Run League All-Stars goes for the fence Friday night during the National Wiffle League Association’s home run derby in Morenci. This year the wiffleball national tournament moved from Dublin, Ohio, to Morenci’s Wakefield Park. During the derby, competitors had two minutes to hit as many home runs as possible. The winner this year finished with 21. See page 6 and 7 for additional photos.

OUT OF THIS WORLD—Elizabeth McFadden and Elise Christle pose in front of the green screen as VolunTeen Noah Gilson makes them appear as though they are standing on the Moon. More photos from the Stair District Library’s NASA @ My Library program are on page 12.

FIREWORKS erupt Saturday night over Morenci’s Wakefield Park during the waning hours of the Town and Country Festival. Additional festival photos are inside.